Lighter



Feb. 11`, 1930. G. KGLLSTEDE- 1,746,949

LIGHTER Filed Jan. 2,5, 192B iParental Feb. 11, Vlean *UNITED s'rA'ras` PATENTfo'Frica XOLLSTEDE, 0F PBOVIDENE', RHODE' ISLAND LIGHTER nfpiimion mea January 25, 192s. serian mi. 24ans.

the lighter having a non-rotatably mounted,

vertically extending iint advancing tube within one end thereof. I provide a suitable base plate for said casing provided with an inset oblon casing aligning elevation to'ac. curately align the casing on said elevation..

On'e end of said elevation is shaped to additionally form an aligning elevation for a fuel reservoir thereon, and a fuel reservoir is ada tedto be ermanently secured to said base p ate, said el reservoir normally having an open lower end attached around and permanently soldered to the reservoir aligning elevation on the base plate. The op 'osite end of the base plate is provided wit a flint tube openin therethrou h terminating at its lowerend in a flint tu e stopper seat of larger diameter. The lower end of the flint tube thus projects substantially to the bottom of the casing near one end thereof and is internally threaded. Thus when the base plate and attached fuel reservoir is aligned within the casing, both-the base plate and attached reservoir ma be attached to the casing by merely threa in in the usual flint tube stopper through the nt tube opening in the base plate and into the threaded lower end of the adjacent flint tube which Y provides a novel and facile means of assemly for the lighter.

A further object of m invention relates to the provision of a nove type of base plate preferably one adapted to have a fuel reservoir soldered thereto.

These and such other objects of my invention as ereinafter may appear will be best understood from a description of the accom anyingdrawings which illustrate my preerred form of automatic lighter constructed in accordance-with the principles of my-invention. r

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved embodimentA of my invention 'showing the cover in the act of bein pivoted to i open position toA cau'se simu taneous rotation of the friction wheel against the flint to light the wick. l

Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view of -my improved lighter.

Figa?) is a cross sectional view of 'm improved lighter taken along line 3 3 ef'v i 1. Ilig. 4 is a vertical sectionall viewl ta en along line 4-4 of Fig. 1. i 'l Fig'. 5 is a plan view of the `nase-plate I preferably employ.

Fig. 6 is Va sectional view taken along line' 6-6 of Fig. 2.4 y

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout,

constructed accordin to the rinciples of my 10 generally indicates an atomatic lighter invention. Said lig iter pre erably includes the oblon casin 12 havin an open up r end Mangd an open lowergend 16. preferred embodiment Ipreferably provi e a plurality of-draft openings 18 on each side Wall 20 of the casin near the upper.A end thereof, cover pivot s aft openings 22 near one end of each side wall near the top thereof and latch depressions 24 on the inside of eachside wall 20 thereof near the top thereof on the opposite end of said side walls 20 from the coverpivot shaft openings 22.

I preferably provide my improved lighter' with a flint advancing tube 26 suitably mounted therein to locate the ilint or otherpyrophoric element 28 employed in contact-` ing relationship with the teeth 2 9 of the friction element 30 employed adaptedon the manipulation thereof to throw a s arktowards the ignitible element 32,.whic in myv preferred embodiment comprises a wick projecting upwards from a fuel reservoir 34. In my referred embodiment I preferably vertica ly mount the flint advancing tube within one end 36 of the casing 12 and for' this purpose I preferably rovide a U-shaped flint tube aligning brac et 38 having a rear end wa1li40 adapted-to be soldered or otherwise attached to the inside .of the end wall 42 of the casing 1 2. The upper end of the eind wall 42 ofthe casing is preferably cut ioov U-shaped'supporting arms 45 progec mounted it is apparent that the Hint tube 26 will extend vertically in the vend 36 of the casing 12 with the lower end 50 thereof substantially Hush with the lower end 16 of the casing. The lower end -50 of the Hint tube 26 is preferably internz'aillyA threaded as at 51 fora purpose to be described.' It isv obvious however thatin so faras certain features of my invention are concerned, the Hint tube 26 may be mounted in any other portion of the lighter in any suitable manner. In my preferred embodiment I preferably provide a base plate 54 having an inset upwardly projecting casing elevation 56. In my referred embodiment said casing elevation 1s provided with the transverse depression 58` therein to form an oblong fuel reservoir aligning elevation 60 in one end thereof havino' a fuel stopper seat 62 adapted to receive a uel stopper63 therein. At the opposite end of said base plate 54 from the fuel reservoir .aligning elevation 60, I provide the Hint tube opening 64 terminating in the Hint tube stopper seat 66 of larger diameter in the lower end thereof. The fuel reservoir 34 is provided with the open lower end 35 adapted to4 be attached around and' to the reservoir alignveo ing elevation 60 on the base plate by solder or any other ,suitable means. I provide a suitable wick openin in the upper lend of the reservoir prefera ly having a 'hollow wick projection thereon. In my preferred embodiment I preferably provide a threaded hole 72 in the upper end of the fuel reservoir and I construct the wick projection 7 O as a screw machine product comprising an externally threaded hollow wick opening member 70 having the central wick opening 74 therein for the wick 32 to extend therethrough terminatin in'the ignitible end 31.

The int 28 or other pyrophoric element emplo ed is suitably mounted in the upper end o the Hint aligning tube 26, and I provide means to continuously advance the Hint into contactingl engagement with the `friction element 30. In m preferred embodiment said means prefera ly comprises the helical flint advancing spring 76 contained within the tube 26 having the upper end thereof adapted to abut the Hint and the lower end thereof adapted to abut the Hint tube stopper 80. The flint tube stopper 8O is preferably provided with the nub 82 projecting upwardtherefrom of substantially the same outer 1 diameter as the internaldiameter of the helical spring 76 `to form a ti ht Ht thereinto remove the helical rin 6 from the 'Hint tube on removal of t e Hint tube stopper 80.

The Hint tube stopper 80 is preferably externally threaded as at 82 on the outer periph.

ery of the .lower end thereof. 'llhe Hint tube stopper 80 is preferably provided with the head 84 of larger diameter adapted to seat on the Hint tube stopper seat 66 in the lower end.

manently aligning the baseplate in the openV lower end 16 of the casing causing theattached reservoir 34 to be contained within the .casing and permanently securing a Hint tube stopper 8O through a suitable hole 64 therefor in the base plate within the Hint tube and causing the head 84 thereof to seat within a co-operating seat 66 in the base plate thereby permitting attaching the base plate and fuel reservoir within the casing by means of securing the Hint tube stopper within the Hint tube.

As stated hitherto I provide a lighter of a. novel automatic type adapted on a single n10- tion in place of two necessary in most types of lighters to simultaneously open the cover and rotate the friction element 30 against the Hint 28 to ignite. the ignitible element. To this end I suitably mount a cover 86 on the lighter preferably on an upper end of the side walls 20 of the casing and immediately above the Ythe Hint 28. As stated hitherto I preferably provide the cover 86 with the openin lever 94 projecting from the end .thereof adjacent its pivot point to the casing 12 which opening lever preferably extends a substantial distance beyond the adjacent end wall 42 of tlie cover. While any suitable type of means operated by the opening of the cover to cause movement of the friction element 30 against the Hint 28 may be employed, I preferably mount the friction element 30 on the cover pivot shaft 92 so as to rotate with the cover 86 on normal rotation thereof. v While this result may be accomplished in any suitable` manner I preferably employ a friction wheel 30 having a Hattened chord surface 98 formed by removal of a sector therefrom adapted to abut the under surface of the top wall 96 of the cover to cause the wheel to rotate on the pivot shaft 92 simultaneously with the cover 86. `.As shown in Fig. 1, my improved lighter is adapted to be opened with the wheel 30 simultaneously striking a ainst the int 28 by means of a shar snap ownward pressure exerted. by the t umb 100 or otherwise on the laterally rojecting opening lever 94 of the cover 86. o normally latch the cover to the casing l2 I provide suitable latch means preferably on the opposite end of said cover 86 from the pivot fpoint 90 thereof an'd the adjacent portion o said lighter, said means being resilientl releasable on a downward pressure exerte Von the opening lever. While any suitable t pe of resilient latch means may be employed I preferably strike up the latc projections 102 on the side-walls 88 of the cover 86 adapted to register within the latch depressions 24v heretofore described :in the inner sides of the side walls 2O of the casin As the side walls 88 of the cover and the sirIe walls 2O of the casing are constructed of resilient material, it is obvious that on pressure exerted on the opening lever of the cover, the

. co-operatin latch means 24 and 102 will Aresiliently re ease to permit opening of the cover.

As stated hitherto I'believe I am the irst to speciicallyprovide any type of draft Afor drawing thekspark from the contacting `friction and pyrophoric elements 28 and 30 respectively towards the ignitible end 31 of the Wick 32. For this purpose I provide the draft opening 44 in the upper end of the end wall`42 of the casing in rear of said friction j and pyrophoric elements 30 and' 28 to draw a spark forward towards the ignitible end 31 ofthe wick 32. I also provide suitable means to create an artificial draft on opening of the cover to throw sparks forward or in any desired direction from the contacting wheel and flint toward the wick end 31. To this end I provide the cover 86 with a downwardly arcuatel projecting wall 104 in rear ofthe point oI contacting engagement of the friction wheel 30 with the flint 28 adapted on revolution of the cover 86 to revolve forwards to form an artificial draft to throw the s arks forward to the wick end 31. In my pre erred embodiment the arcuately downwardly and forwardly projecting end wall 104 is preferably split as at 106 to form' the central slot 106 to contain the friction wheel 30 therein. 'As

statedY hitherto, the vcover 86 is preferablyv made of a single piece of metal stamped into the fiat top 96 having the integral opening lever or extension 94 projecting from one end thereof and .having the .centrally split end wall 104 integrally arcuately downwardly and forwardly bent Vfrom said rear opening end 94 and-the side walls 88 inset and downwardly bent extending integrally from the ktop 96. r

As also stated I preferably provide a snulier 110 vertically yieldingly mounted on the cover 86 adapted to register against its co-operating preferably bevelled seat 112 on the wick projection surrounding the ignitible end 31 of the wick. I preferably vertically yieldingly mount said snuEer 110 on the cover 86. It is obvious that int will at all times tend to accurately align itself on its co-operating seat 112 on the projection 7 0 to form a suitable snu'ler and in addition a-com-` plete vapor seal when the lighter is not in use. While I may vertically yieldingly mount said snuiier on said cover in any suitable fashion, I preferably provide for this purpose the pin 114 projecting downwardly from said cover having the upper end 116 rigidly secured to the cover and the enlarged head 118 offset from said cover. I also provide the cylindrical snuffer 110 having lthe open lower end 122 of larger diameter than the wick 32 adapted to seat on the seat 112 of the Wick projection 70 and having a perforation 124 in the upper end thereofslidably mounted on said pin 114 between the head 118 thereof and the lower surface of the cover 86 and I provide a spring 126 having the upper end thereof abutting the lower surface of the cover and the lower end thereof abutting the upper surface of the upper end of the snutler to resiliently seat the snuifer 110 on the wick projection 70. To assemble, it in obvious that the snuffer 110 is rst mounted on the pin 114 and the upper end 116 of the pin suitably secured to the cover 86. The interior of the fuel reservoir 34 may be filled if desired with cotton 134.

The automatic operation of my invention is obvious from the above description. When it is desired to light the lighter, the thumb or other. finger 100 is pressed sharply downwardlyfon the opening lever 94 of the cover, thereby causing the resilient co-operating latch members 24 and 102 to release the cover and simultaneously with the opening of the cover cause the teeth 29 of the wheel 30 to -strike against the upper end of the flint 28 to throw aspark towards the ignitible end 31 of the wick. The spark is aided in its travel towards the wick by the natural draft through the opening 44 .inthe end wall 42 of the casing and the artificial draft simultaneously ycreated by the rotation and forward movement of the deecting lip 104 projecting downwardly `fromthe rear end of the ycover on opening of the cover 86. To close the cover it is obvious that a mere manual pressure downwards on said cover 86 will cause the-resilient'lstch means 24 and 102 to engage to normally hold the cover 86 to the casing 12 when not in; use.

- It isobvious that-I have provided a novel 'type of automatic lighteroperable with a single motion `simultaneously to open the cover and to ignite a spark, that I am the first to employ a draft both natural and artificial to aid in throwing the spark towards the Vignitible element, that I have provided a novel means of securing the reservoir within 'the casing by the securement of the Hint tube stopper within the `Hint tube alone and that I haveprovided 'alighter constructed of a minimum number of easily fabricated and assembled parts.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing` from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claimis:

l.A In a lighter, a vcasing having an open bottom, a Hint tube supporting bracket at:

tached to the inside of an end wall of said casing, a Hint advancing tube non-rotatably mounted within said bracket, said stopper having a threaded lower end, a base plate having a Hint tube opening and Hint tube stopper seat in one end thereof, a fuel reservoir secured to the opposite end of said base plate, and a Hint tube stopper threaded within the lower end of said Hint tube, said stopper having a head of larger diameter seating on the Hint tube stopper seat of the base plate whereby on attachment of the Hint tube stopper withinthe Hint tube said base plate and attached reservoir may be detachably se- 2; In alighter, a casing, a Hint tube nonrotatably mounted within said casing, a base plate having a fuel reservoir mounted thereon and a Hint stopper opening and seat therein, and a Hint tube stopper projecting through said opening secured within the Hint tube'to detachably secure said base plate and reservoir to the Hint tube within the casing.

3. A base plate for use in li hters having a. casing aligmngelevation, a Hint tube openin one end thereof and a fuel reservoir aligning elevation at the opposite end thereof. 4. Ina lighter, a casing, a AHint tube nonrotatably mounted within said casing, a basel plate having a fuel reservoir mounted thereon and a Hint tube stopper opening and seat rotatably mounted .within said casing, a base therein, and a H int tu tube and having the head thereof resting within said base plate seat to detachably secure said base plate and reservoir to the Hint tube within the casing.

' 5. In a lighter, a casing, a Hint tube nonplate having a Hint tube stopper opening and seat therein, and a Hint tube stopper projecting through said opening secured within the Hint tube and having the head thereof resting Within said base plate seat to detachably secure said base plate to the Hint tube within p the casing.

e stopper pro'ecting through said opening secured within t e Hint 6. In a lighter, an oblon casin having' ai open bottom, a U-shaped int tube ali v g bracket attached to the inner side o om end wall of said casing, said bracket having U-sha-ped arms projecting from each en( thereof, a cylindrical Hint tube having 1 threaded lower end and diametrically op o site parallel slots in its side walls, said ot receiving-the closed ends of said U-shape( l arms to non-rotatably mount said Hint tube .tube stopper having a threaded lower en( threaded into the lower end of the Hint tub and a head of larger diameter seating .on thi Hint tube stopper seat .of th base plate whereby on attachment of the Hint tube stop per within the Hint tube said base plate am attached reservoir may be accurately a1igne in 'and be detachably secured to saidl casing In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature GEORGE KOLLSTEDE.

ing anda co-operating Hint tube stopper seat 

